Blacking-box



(No Model.)

J. M. WHEAT. BLAGKING BOX No. 493,955. Patented Mar. 21, 1893.

.Mm, @9 WW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. WHEAT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BLACKlNG-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,955, dated March21, 1893.

Application filed June 27,1892. Serial ITO-438,127. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. WHEAT, of the city of St. Louis and Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBlacking-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof-- My invention relates to improvements in blacking boxes,and consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts as willbe more fully hereinafter described and designated in the claims.

The object of my invention is to manufacture a device embodying aconstruction which prevents the too rapid consumption and consequentlythe waste of the blacking.

My principal idea lies in the providing of a means for furnishing onlythe requisite amount of blacking applied to the brush, and at the sametime preventing the hardening or caking of the blacking remaining in thebox.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top elevation of my complete invention.Fig. 2 is a detail top elevation of the cutting-disk. Fig. 3 is a Viewtaken on a line mm of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a View of the box with partsbroken away, showing the spring-follower plate in the lid, engaging thecutting-disk. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken 011 a line yy of Fig. 1,and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View of the lid showing thefollower-plate in its position when engaging the cutting-disk.

Referring to the drawings: 1 indicates a blacking box of the ordinaryconstruction, and 2 the lid forming a part of my invention.

The box is circular in form and provided near its upper edge with anannular bulge or flange 3, to act as a stop for the lid when the same isplaced thereon.

I will first describe in detail the peculiar construction of the lidembodying in its manufacture, a spring-follower plate. The top of thelid is provided between its center andouter periphery with a slit 5running concentric with said outer periphery 6. This slit does notextend the whole distance of the circle, but leaves a small segmentwhich forms a hinge 7 for the flap 8 formed by this construction.Between the slit 5 and the center of the flap 8 is another slit 9running concentric with the slit 5 in the outer periphery 6. A smallsegment of this circleis also left forming a hinge 10, the same beingupon the opposite side of the slit 9 to the location of the hinge 7 inthe slit 5. It will be seen that by this construction I really have twofollower-plates all in conjunction with the stationary portion of thelid. The central plate 11 is provided with a projection' 12.dependinginto the interior of the box, and formed by the punching of twoslits at right angles with each other in the lid. The rim or plate 8 isprovided with a similar depending projection. 13.

I will now describe the cutting-disk which is forced down into the soft,pliable contents of the box and by means of the many cutting edges itpresents, and the revolving of said disk causes the blacking to beelevated and pressed out through the many perforations in saidcutting-disk.

The cutting-disk 14 is of such a size that it fits loosely into theinterior of the box 1 and has teeth or serrated edge 15 upon its outerperiphery. It is provided with a number of perforations such as 16 and17, and a large open figure 18in its center. The object of theseperforations is to present as much cutting surface as possible to theblacking and at the same time distribute the blacking evenly upon theoutside of said disk 15, and readily appliable to the brush.

The lid 2 may be provided with any number of depending projections andthe design and number of the perforations in the disk 14.- may differwithout affecting the originalidea embodied in my claims.

Another use for the perforations in the disk 14: is the engaging of theprojections 12 and 13 in the lid 1 by means of which said outting-diskis revolved in the interior of the box. This is done by the pressingdown upon the plate 11 with the thumb or fore-finger and the turning ofthe lid fitted upon the box so that the disk is revolved by saidmovement.

In Fig. 4 of the illustrations 1 have best shown the manner of theengagement between the projections 12 and 13 and the perforations 16 inthe disk 14 while in Fig. 6 is shown the position of a spring-followerplate and the projections depending therefrom.

Having stated the object and fullydescribed the parts of myinvention indetail,I will now proceed with its operation.

Premising that the blacking has all been exhausted from the top of thedisk 14, and the person desiring to make use of the blacking places thethumb or fore-finger upon the center-plate 11 of the lid 2 and theprojections 12 and 13 engage the perforations in the disk 14 and byrevolving said lid 2, the disk is also revolved, and the disk 14, byreason of the many cutting edges Which it presents to the blackingforces enough blacking upward through the perforations to supply presentneeds. The brush can then be applied to the blacking, which is above thedisk, and the balance of the blacking, beneath the disk does not becomedampened by contact with the brush, and consequently does not harden orI ake.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. As animprovement in blacking boxes, the combination, with the box proper, ofan apertured disk adapted to be loosely disposed therein, and a coverprovided with an inwardly-yielding member struck therefrom and adaptedto bear upon the disk; substantialh as and for the purpose setforth.

2. As an improvement in blacking boxes, the combination, with the boxproper, of an apertu red disk adapted to be loosely disposed therein,and a cover having ayielding' portion struck therefrom and provided Withinwardly-projecting studs adapted to engage coinciding apertures in saiddisk when said yielding portion is depressed; substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a blacking box consisting ofthe box proper, a disk adapted to be looselydisposed therein, and acover for said box provided with reversely-located segmental slits,forming an inwardly yielding portion to said cover and adapted to bedepressed upon said disk; substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. WHEAT. Vitnesses:

ALFRED A. Eroxs, HERBERT S. ROBINSON.

